Translucent concrete
In light concrete (also light transmitting concrete , translucent concrete ) is a concrete block formed by the incorporation of light-conducting elements - usually fibers - becomes translucent.
In contrast to some glass concrete structures , it is generally more about translucency than transparency in the narrower sense. The fiber structures stand out as luminous dots on the surface and coherent silhouettes stand out through shading.
The material is used in architecture primarily for wall cladding and facades . But a large number of design products have also been made with this material.
In order for the fiber ends to appear light on the surface, the fibers must reach through the entire stone, be light-conducting and be illuminated from the opposite side. The light source for this can be of different nature.
Material and manufacture
There are many different manufacturing processes. However, translucent concrete usually has a mixture of approx. 95% fine concrete ( cement and sand with a relatively small largest grain) and 5% optically effective elements. Usually translucent concrete is produced in slabs or stones and then processed like natural stone .
Assembly technology
The translucency of the material must always be taken into account when installing light concrete slabs. So either the incidence of sufficient ambient light must be guaranteed or it must, e.g. B. a light source can be provided for wall cladding, etc. in assembly technology. From the natural stone technology z. B. in the case of LUCEM's translucent concrete products, assembly systems such as pin anchors, bolts or undercut dowels are usually used.
history
The first light-conducting concrete elements were described in patents as early as 1935 . However, the development of optical glass fibers (from around 1950) and polymer optical fibers (from around 1970) each led to a large number of experiments and inventions on light-conducting concrete, some of which also resulted in more technical applications, such as the use of optical fibers as crack detectors. In the 1990s, forms of construction elements with finer fiber distribution were created, similar to the translucent concrete products that are successful today.
Various companies around the world are currently producing light-conducting concrete in very different ways. Some manufacturers are (among others):
- Florack Bauunternehmung GmbH, Heinsberg / Germany
- LBM EFO, Berching / Germany
- Litracon Bft , Csongrád / Hungary
- LUCEM GmbH, Stolberg / Germany
- Luccon Lichtbeton GmbH, Klaus / Austria
Variants of translucent concrete
In addition to finer fiber structures, which are created by the introduction of z. B. glass fibers come about, sometimes coarser light patterns are produced. This has the advantage that, particularly in the case of large-area applications, the light point texture is still perceived as such by the viewer from a corresponding distance , instead of becoming blurred. Texts and pictograms can also be displayed with coarser fibers .
literature
- Andreas Roye, Marijan Barlé, Thomas Gries : Fiber and textile-based light guidance in concrete components , Shaker Verlag, Aachen 2009, ISBN 978-3-8322-7297-5 .
- Andreas Roye: The Charm of Transparency in research 4/2012, pp. 12–15 (PDF; 2.1 MB)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Andreas Roye, Marijan Barlé, Thomas Gries: Fiber and textile-based light guidance in concrete components . Schaker Verlag, Aachen, Germany 2009, ISBN 978-3-8322-7297-5 .
- ↑ a b c http://www.lucem.de/fileadmin/templates/Downloads/Planungsfolder/LUCEM_Planungsfolder_2011.pdf
- ↑ Patent CA353849A : LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE STRUCTURE. Published October 29, 1935 , inventor: Bernard Long.
- ↑ Patent GB1561142A : DECORATIVE WALLS, FLOORS AND CEILINGS. Published November 20, 1976 , Inventors: Davind Kenneth, John Richardson.
- ↑ Patent FR86221876 : Floor plates made of beams with inserted fiber optic sensors. Published on August 19, 1986 , inventor: Felten & Guilleaume Energietechnik AG.
- ↑ Patent DE9310500U1 : Translucent component. Published on July 14, 1993 , inventor: Uwe Weidmann.
- ↑ Patent FR2743135A1 : BORNES ET AUTRES EQUIPEMENTS PUBLICS OU PRIVES EN BETON OU CIMENT ECLAIRES PAR FIBRES OPTIQUES. Published on December 29, 1995 , inventor: FRANCOIS ORTH.
- ↑ http://www.lucem.de/index.php?id=354&L=1%25252525252525252527%25252525252525252522